Washington governor signs 12-month birth control refill bill

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has signed a bill that would let women get a 12-month refill of their birth control prescriptions instead of a month at the time.

Inslee signed the measure Tuesday. The bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. June Robinson, easily passed the Legislature, winning approval by wide margins in the Democratic-controlled House in March and the Republican-led Senate last month.

Under the new law, any health plan issued or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 2018 that includes contraceptive coverage must reimburse for a 12-month supply, unless the patient requests a smaller supply.

The plan also must allow patients to receive the drugs, if available, on-site at the provider's office.